RIP 54g corner Welcome 60g cube

Omie

Omie

New member
Hi RC,
I'm back after 2 years out due to personal problems. I had a 54 gallon corner tank that I sadly broke. I tried to "fix" a leaking pipe going to the sump. I tightened too hard and cracked the bottom glass. That was an interesting and flooded night with 54g of saltwater and another 54g of tears ;((

Dispite the broken tank and heart, I really learned a lot working with it and I think I had pretty successful display tank.
This was my 54g corner tank when I started it in January 2010:
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/Pecera/new20tank.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/Pecera/new20tank.jpg" border="0" alt="new tank photo new20tank.jpg"/></a>

This was before it broke in 2012:
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/Pecera/c44c7234.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/Pecera/c44c7234.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo c44c7234.jpg"/></a>

I also have 2 youtube videos. The first one is details about my tank and the second is lightning, progress, and growth.
First:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBtjbjILptE
Second:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB2sIM20sXc

Anyway, I was desperate because I didn't want my corals and fish to die, I bought a cube tank. It is a 24x24x24 60g tank. The tank looks pretty good and I hope it will do even better than my old one.

Cleaning my equipment; I was thinking in how I was going to set up the aquascape and what type of live stock would be the best. Loving so much the SPS, I decided to go SPS dominant. Having the appropriate equipment for them, I made up my mind and I start my new project.

These are some pics of my equipment:
(Top)
60g cube 24x24x24 including 2 inches of live sand
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/IMG_1448.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/IMG_1448.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1448.jpg"/></a>

Black stand 32x25x25
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/IMG_1450.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/IMG_1450.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1450.jpg"/></a>

Live Rock (around 70lb)
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/IMG_1449.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/IMG_1449.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1449.jpg"/></a>

2-mp10w es
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/IMG_1458.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/IMG_1458.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1458.jpg"/></a>

Lightning: Was the Marineland 24hrs Pro light that includes 1-MH Radium with
4-T5 ATI and 2 LED's. Now I have the Radion Gen3 Pro
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/radion-g3-led.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/radion-g3-led.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo radion-g3-led.jpg"/></a>
 
Last edited:
(Bottom)
Sump 15g DIY
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/IMG_1452.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/IMG_1452.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1452.jpg"/></a>

Skimmer SRO 1000sss
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/IMG_1451.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/IMG_1451.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1451.jpg"/></a>

4"x14" sock
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/KGrHqJrgFGC9oO4BRwHpZb-rg60_57.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/KGrHqJrgFGC9oO4BRwHpZb-rg60_57.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo KGrHqJrgFGC9oO4BRwHpZb-rg60_57.jpg"/></a>

Rio 2100 return pump
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/RTI00823-2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/RTI00823-2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo RTI00823-2.jpg"/></a>

AquaController III (I only use it for temp and ph)
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/IMG_1476.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/IMG_1476.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1476.jpg"/></a>

Tunze ATO
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/IMG_1457.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/IMG_1457.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1457.jpg"/></a>

3- two little fishies reactors (GFO, Carbon, Denitrator)
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/IMG_1453.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/IMG_1453.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1453.jpg"/></a>

American DJ outlet
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/IMG_1456.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/IMG_1456.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1456.jpg"/></a>
 
(Extras)
RO/DI
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/IMG_1455.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/IMG_1455.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_1455.jpg"/></a>

ROX 0.8 carbon
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/000520-ROX-08-Aquarium-Carbon-Premium-High-Performance-grouped-a_1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/000520-ROX-08-Aquarium-Carbon-Premium-High-Performance-grouped-a_1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 000520-ROX-08-Aquarium-Carbon-Premium-High-Performance-grouped-a_1.jpg"/></a>

Rowaphos GFO
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/207797-rowaphos100g-a.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/207797-rowaphos100g-a.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 207797-rowaphos100g-a.jpg"/></a>
 
Let start the assembling!
With help from my girlfriend, I put the tank in place and started beginning my project. I save around 30-35g of my old water and I mix the rest with the Red Sea pro salt. That way I can accelerate the process of recirculation. At this time I was using the marineland pro light fixture.
After I finish my aqua scape and add the water, this is how my tank looked:
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/?action=view&current=IMG_1466.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/IMG_1466.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
 
Problems, problems and more problems!!!
Working with the sump and installing all the PVC pipes I started the recirculation process. I placed my skimmer and turned it on... Nothing happened!!! I tried again and... NOTHING HAPPENED!!! So, I disassemble the pump and check that everything was fine. Pin wheel was fine (not broken or cracked). I cleaned it for 24 hr in a bucket with water and vinegar. Next day I tried to turn it on.... Again nothing! I call for warranty and they said that will send me a new pump. This is the worst part! Waiting... Like everybody, when I start something I don't want to wait. But didn't have any other option.

Now, working with the ATO I installed and turn it on. Guess what happened... NOTHING!!! I started getting frustrated and anxious. I suspected that the problem was the pump, so I decide to buy a new pump. Thank God it is not that expensive.

Meanwhile, I was waiting so I made an egg create stand for the skimmer, so it can be 6" in the water for a better skim. Finally after 4 days waiting (feels like a year) I received my new bubble blaster pump and my new ATO pump. I check the ATO pump and I was correct, it was the pump. One less problem. Then I connected the BB pump and... It turned on!!! I left it running in fresh water for few hours and then connected everything to the body and put in in the sump.

This is how it started looking after few hours:
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/?action=view&current=DC680672-7992-4532-BF97-5220598B8DDE.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/DC680672-7992-4532-BF97-5220598B8DDE.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/?action=view&current=AE0E5942-90A4-4849-9B76-0C205B81E4DF.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/AE0E5942-90A4-4849-9B76-0C205B81E4DF.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
 
My sump is complete and so far doing good. I clean all the reactors and put new media in all of them. That way I won't have to deal with to much GHA.

This is my sump with the reactors and reserve of water for my ATO.
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/?action=view&current=20208E00-94C2-4B85-B1E4-C8C91DF99BAE.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/20208E00-94C2-4B85-B1E4-C8C91DF99BAE.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

These are my reactors. The first one is the GFO, continued by carbon, and last but not least the denitrator .
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/?action=view&current=51856DBB-22C5-469F-B446-1C359566265C.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/51856DBB-22C5-469F-B446-1C359566265C.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
 
I've been doing 10g w/c every week and these were my results:

First week:
Salt: 1.026
Temp: 78.0
Alk: 11.2ppm
Ca:405ppm
Mag: 1410ppm
Nitrate: 75ppm
PO4: 0.16ppm
Ph: 7.74

Second week:
Salt: 1.026
Temp: 78.6
Alk: 10.9ppm
Ca: 425ppm
Mag: 1450ppm
Nitrate: 50ppm
PO4: 0.05ppm
Ph:7.7

Third week:
Salt: 1.025
Temp: 79.2
Alk: 10.0ppm
Ca: 435ppm
Mag: 1410ppm
Nitrate: 25ppm
PO4:0ppm
Ph:7.84

Fourth week:
Salt: 1.025
Temp:79.1
Alk: 10.6ppm
Ca: 425ppm
Mag: 1365ppm
Nitrate: 15ppm
PO4: 0ppm
Ph:7.83

I check with salifert test kit. Only PO4 is Hanna instrument. My nitrates and PO4 went down. Looking to the results I decide to buy some peppermint shrimp to see if they will survive.
These are my peppermint shrimp and they are doing great!

This one is Pepper
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/?action=view&current=E225ABF4-4CF9-4778-A954-F491E165EFF4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/E225ABF4-4CF9-4778-A954-F491E165EFF4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

This one is Mint
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/?action=view&current=75DDCBE9-4630-4883-A578-C627A62ECB67.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/75DDCBE9-4630-4883-A578-C627A62ECB67.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
 
Last edited:
Very nice progress. My son is helping me to setup a 60 gallon cube that looks just like yours. I will take pictures to chronicle the progress.
I like the rock design.
 
jh112 said:
Very nice progress. My son is helping me to setup a 60 gallon cube that looks just like yours. I will take pictures to chronicle the progress.
I like the rock design.
Click to expand...

Thanks!!!
Looking forward to seeing yours...
My tank is already 2 months old and I put some corals already. I have 18 SPS and few softies... Will start posting pics soon.
 
Was to be expected... GHA show up to the party!!!
My parameters are pretty good but I was waiting for the GHA to show. It's bad and getting worse. It's up to 2 inches long and covering all my rocks. I move some corals because it starts suffocating them. Hope this part passes by fast, because it's affecting my corals. The good part is that my Starry Blenny and my snails have enough food for years to come.

LR w/ GHA
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/?action=view&current=CE97F89C-569A-4965-B6E6-FBFFDF8642D3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/CE97F89C-569A-4965-B6E6-FBFFDF8642D3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/?action=view&current=9BC4FC9D-5701-4E55-AA61-A2F23CA0A910.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/9BC4FC9D-5701-4E55-AA61-A2F23CA0A910.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

This is my chalice war coral. Someone gave it to me because it was dying.
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/?action=view&current=84031B47-D236-44F9-8553-5B29ED6FD05A.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/84031B47-D236-44F9-8553-5B29ED6FD05A.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

It is doing good so far, the only problem is the algae.
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/?action=view&current=4F02B50F-4F3E-40FD-9490-1E9403FE968E.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/4F02B50F-4F3E-40FD-9490-1E9403FE968E.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
 
Finally!!! My GHA is going away. It took me 2 months, doing a w/c every week for it to go away. Wasn't that difficult but it was very annoying just looking at an ugly tank. I still have some but not to the point to suffocate the corals. Here are some pics of the progress of my cube tank.
One of my LR without GHA
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/?action=view&current=B2DD7D02-0584-466C-9D9C-DD7EA8EA17D0.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/B2DD7D02-0584-466C-9D9C-DD7EA8EA17D0.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

Chalice is no longer suffocating from the GHA
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/?action=view&current=415CC9EF-B4FE-49E5-8B13-A32FDF03844E.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/415CC9EF-B4FE-49E5-8B13-A32FDF03844E.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>

My shrimps are happy for the progress
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/?action=view&current=E1254339-7DB6-4AAF-A258-776CB343F390.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/E1254339-7DB6-4AAF-A258-776CB343F390.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
 
Like I posted before, this is my new radion g3 pro. I switched my marineland pro light, that includes one mh and t5's, for the LED's. I know a lot of people have been successful growing SPS and I wanted to give it a try. So far all my SPS are doing good (I have like 21 acros), and the colors are like I expected. The shimmering on the rocks and sand makes the tank so real and enjoyable to watch. Don't regret changing nor the money spent.
This is how it looks from the top:
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/?action=view&current=8F8A7C32-8617-4244-B650-644204E933BB.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/8F8A7C32-8617-4244-B650-644204E933BB.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
 
I will buy a good camera, now I'm using my phone, so I can get more clear and better pics. But at least you can see, more or less how my tank is looking up to today's date.
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/user/omie11/media/reef%20central/11E3B5BF-E09B-4C00-8346-9F1405722395.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/11E3B5BF-E09B-4C00-8346-9F1405722395.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 11E3B5BF-E09B-4C00-8346-9F1405722395.jpg"/></a>
 
Finally I bought a good camera! Don't know how to work with it, but I will try. It's a canon rebel T5i and I love it so far.
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/?action=view&current=1FBD25E0-7382-4C9E-AA73-DE3FFE014608.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/1FBD25E0-7382-4C9E-AA73-DE3FFE014608.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
 
I have been playing with this camera the past 2hrs. This is one of my first pic. It's a gorgonian and it's pretty happy with the flow. Just testing my camera. Feedback will be appreciated so I can improve my work.

<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/?action=view&current=IMG_0028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/omie11/reef%20central/IMG_0028.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket Pictures, Images and Photos" /></a>
 
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